Date: October 1, 2007 Prepare Your Body for Spinal Surgery More than one million spinal surgeries are performed in America every year. Physical preparations prior to spinal surgery can have a major impact on its success and a person’s overall recovery. Following are a few things to consider: Watch your eating habits: A key ingredient [...]

Date: May 27, 2008 Four Ways to Avoid Injury While Doing Yard Work By: Barb Berggoetz Springtime gardening can be relaxing and therapeutic — all that digging, planting and working in the soil and enjoying the outdoors. But it also can be backbreaking and exhausting. “Yard work can be considered another great form of exercise,” [...]

Date: September 25, 2007 How to Improve Posture, Lessen Back Pain By: Barb Berggoetz Dr. Stephen Ritter, the first spine specialist at Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists, shares his tips: Get up and move:  As muscles tire, slouching, slumping and other poor postures become more likely, putting extra pressure on neck and back. [...]

Date: September 18, 2007 Ask the Doctor: Too-heavy packs cause problems for young backs By: Shari Rudavsky As it appeared in the Indianapolis Star Stephen Ritter is a spine surgeon at Methodist Sports Medicine / The Orthopedic Specialists. Q: With the start of another school year, children are strapping on their backpacks once more. Tell [...]